Senators Demand End to Abuse of Pregnant Immigrants in Detention Ahead of Mother's Day

As Mother’s Day approaches, U.S. senators are raising the alarm about the treatment of pregnant and nursing people in immigration detention. On Thursday, Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin demanding information about the conditions for this vulnerable group and urging the immediate release of pregnant women from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody.

“There are virtually no legal safeguards for pregnant women in federal custody,” the senators wrote.

The letter follows the introduction of new legislation by Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) that would establish federal care standards for incarcerated pregnant people, including those in ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities. The bill builds on a 2022 House-passed measure that only applied to those in Bureau of Prisons custody.

Accurate data on the number of pregnant people in federal custody remains unclear, particularly regarding immigrants. In 2023, more than 700 incarcerated mothers gave birth in prison, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. Between January 1, 2025, and February 16, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported 363 pregnant, postpartum, and nursing immigrants. Sixteen miscarriages were recorded during that six-week period. As of March, an estimated 126 pregnant women remained in detention, the senators reported.

Conditions vary widely across states and facilities. Federal guidelines are minimal: there are no federal rules on prenatal nutrition for incarcerated mothers, and some facilities continue to shackle pregnant inmates, even around the abdomen. In some cases, mothers are separated from their newborns shortly after birth. These practices pose serious risks, including miscarriages, psychological trauma, and physical harm.

Proposed Legislation Aims to End Harmful Practices

The Pregnant Women In Custody Act, introduced by Rep. Kamlager-Dove, seeks to mandate adequate prenatal healthcare in federal prisons, jails, and ICE detention centers. Key provisions include:

• Prohibiting the use of shackles during labor and delivery
• Improving health-related data collection in federal facilities
• Ensuring access to comprehensive prenatal and postpartum care

“It’s unacceptable that there are virtually no legal safeguards for pregnant women in federal custody, and this bill aims to right that wrong by ensuring healthier, safer futures for mothers and babies,” Rep. Kamlager-Dove stated.

Senators Highlight Conditions at ICE Facility in Texas

The senators also sent letters to two private contractors—Acquisition Logistics, LLC and Amentum Services, Inc.—which operate Camp East Montana, an ICE detention facility in El Paso, Texas. A New York Times report in March revealed that the facility lacks an onsite doctor, despite holding pregnant women.

In their letter to Secretary Mullin, the senators cited an incident where a detained woman experiencing vaginal bleeding was reportedly given only water, prenatal vitamins, and a temperature check. They wrote, “We write today with deep concern about the callous indifference with which this Administration appears to be mistreating this extremely vulnerable population.”

The letter concluded with an urgent request for immediate action to address these conditions.